Studies in Art History

Kant and the critical foundation of modern aesthetics. Aesthetics emerged in Europe in the 18th century (“the century of criticism”) and found its foundational text in Immanuel Kant's Critique of the Power of Judgment. The course aims to offer an analytical reading of the entire first part of the work, the “Critique of the Aesthetic Faculty of Judgment,” against the background of the debate of the time. Following an introduction to the main currents of thought in Kant’s intellectual context, the course provides a concise overview of his philosophical development, with the aim of clarifying the motivations that led to the composition of his third critical work, the Critique of the Power of Judgment—the detailed textual analysis of which forms the core of the course. This work had an importance that can hardly be overestimated, not only for the aesthetic thought of his contemporaries and of German idealism, but for the entire philosophical tradition in general, up to the present day. Indeed, the text is indispensable not only for any reflection addressing the problem of taste, art, creativity, beauty and the sublime, but more generally, that of making sense of experience. The aesthetic, epistemological, ethical and political thought of our contemporary times continues to revisit this Kantian work, whose implications still seem fruitful and inexhaustible. In addition to the Kantian text, students will be required to study one of the listed optional works.

General knowledge of the history of philosophy with special focus on modern philosophy.

Immanuel Kant, Critica della facoltà di giudizio, Einaudi, Torino 1999 (recommended edition). Only the following parts: Preface by Kant, Introduction by Kant (§§ I-IX), §§ 1-60. One book of your choice from the following texts: Stefano Catucci, Sul filo, Quodlibet, Macerata 2024 Andrea D’Ammando, Emilio Garroni. Crisi e critica delle arti contemporanee, Quodlibet, Macerata 2025 Paolo D’Angelo, Estetica, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2011. Emilio Garroni, Estetica. Uno sguardo-attraverso, (1992), Castelvecchi, Roma 2022. Tommaso Morawski (ed.), Kant and Culture Studies on Kant’s Philosophy of Culture, Sapienza Università editrice 2022 (https://www.editricesapienza.it/sites/default/files/6088_Morawski_Kant_Culture_ebook.pdf) Stefano Velotti, La filosofia e le arti. Sentire, pensare, immaginare, Laterza, Roma-Bari (2012), 2022. Stefano Velotti, Sotto la soglia del controllo. Pratiche artistiche e forme di vita, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2024.

Attending the course is highly recommended.

The course includes a final oral examination. The oral examination will be conducted from the punctual and in-depth commentary of passages of the student’s choice and will assess his or her ability to analyze the text punctually, both from a technical point of view (terminological and conceptual), and reformulating it in non-technical language, connecting it to the rest of the thought of the author. Beginning, then, with the commentary on the chosen passage, the exam will cover the entire program. In order to pass the tests the student will have to demonstrate that he/she: 1. knows the content of the text covered; 2. is able to return it clearly, correctly mastering the specialized vocabulary used by the author; 3. is able to identify the most relevant theoretical junctures and to discuss them critically; 4. is able to independently elaborate an argument related to the content covered. Satisfaction of points 1 and 2 is a necessary condition for passing the exam. Grades above 27 will be awarded to those students whose papers satisfy all four points indicated.

Lectures with reconstruction of the context and reading, analysis and commentary of the texts. Reference will be made to the original texts. Active student participation is highly encouraged and will be stimulated throughout the lessons.

Kant and the critical foundation of modern aesthetics. Aesthetics emerged in Europe in the 18th century (“the century of criticism”) and found its foundational text in Immanuel Kant's Critique of the Power of Judgment. The course aims to offer an analytical reading of the entire first part of the work, the “Critique of the Aesthetic Faculty of Judgment,” against the background of the debate of the time. Following an introduction to the main currents of thought in Kant’s intellectual context, the course provides a concise overview of his philosophical development, with the aim of clarifying the motivations that led to the composition of his third critical work, the Critique of the Power of Judgment—the detailed textual analysis of which forms the core of the course. This work had an importance that can hardly be overestimated, not only for the aesthetic thought of his contemporaries and of German idealism, but for the entire philosophical tradition in general, up to the present day. Indeed, the text is indispensable not only for any reflection addressing the problem of taste, art, creativity, beauty and the sublime, but more generally, that of making sense of experience. The aesthetic, epistemological, ethical and political thought of our contemporary times continues to revisit this Kantian work, whose implications still seem fruitful and inexhaustible. In addition to the Kantian text, students will be required to study one of the listed optional works.

General knowledge of the history of philosophy with special focus on modern philosophy.

Immanuel Kant, Critica della facoltà di giudizio, Einaudi, Torino 1999 (recommended edition). Only the following parts: Preface by Kant, Introduction by Kant (§§ I-IX), §§ 1-60. One book of your choice from the following texts: Stefano Catucci, Sul filo, Quodlibet, Macerata 2024 Andrea D’Ammando, Emilio Garroni. Crisi e critica delle arti contemporanee, Quodlibet, Macerata 2025 Paolo D’Angelo, Estetica, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2011. Emilio Garroni, Estetica. Uno sguardo-attraverso, (1992), Castelvecchi, Roma 2022. Tommaso Morawski (ed.), Kant and Culture Studies on Kant’s Philosophy of Culture, Sapienza Università editrice 2022 (https://www.editricesapienza.it/sites/default/files/6088_Morawski_Kant_Culture_ebook.pdf) Stefano Velotti, La filosofia e le arti. Sentire, pensare, immaginare, Laterza, Roma-Bari (2012), 2022. Stefano Velotti, Sotto la soglia del controllo. Pratiche artistiche e forme di vita, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2024.

Attending the course is highly recommended.

The course includes a final oral examination. The oral examination will be conducted from the punctual and in-depth commentary of passages of the student’s choice and will assess his or her ability to analyze the text punctually, both from a technical point of view (terminological and conceptual), and reformulating it in non-technical language, connecting it to the rest of the thought of the author. Beginning, then, with the commentary on the chosen passage, the exam will cover the entire program. In order to pass the tests the student will have to demonstrate that he/she: 1. knows the content of the text covered; 2. is able to return it clearly, correctly mastering the specialized vocabulary used by the author; 3. is able to identify the most relevant theoretical junctures and to discuss them critically; 4. is able to independently elaborate an argument related to the content covered. Satisfaction of points 1 and 2 is a necessary condition for passing the exam. Grades above 27 will be awarded to those students whose papers satisfy all four points indicated.

Lectures with reconstruction of the context and reading, analysis and commentary of the texts. Reference will be made to the original texts. Active student participation is highly encouraged and will be stimulated throughout the lessons.